Sole Epidermis Research Articles

Paget's cells. New evidence linking mammary and extramammary Paget cells to a common cell phenotype.

Three mouse monoclonal anti-human cytokeratin antibodies were made against human sole epidermis. One of these (KA4) was shown to react with a variety of human simple epithelium, including eccrine and apocrine sweat glands and the luminal cells of the breast ducts and lobules, but failed to decorate interfollicular stratified squamous epithelium. This antibody reacted by the immunoblot technic with cytokeratins of Mr values 54, 46, and 40 kdaltons. KA4 reacted strongly with clear cells found in 11% of breast epithelium in clinically uninvolved nipples and with all Paget's cells in four cases of mammary and five cases of extramammary Paget's disease. These findings suggest a common cellular phenotype for Paget's cells and relates them to a population of cells found in breast epithelium.

Regional variations in mouse skin : Quantitation of epidermal compartments in two different body sites

Regional differences of the epidermis of the ears and soles were determined in mice. The living portion of the sole epidermis (keratoblasts and keratocytes) was 31÷2 times thicker in the soles with only twice as many cells as in the ear. A larger size of sole epidermal cells was found, the corneocytes included. In vertical sections 40% of the living cells were found in the basal layer of the sole compared to 61% in the ear epidermis. Indication was given however that in the ear the basal layer was not homogeneous. Considering size and shape of the epidermal cells the true proportion of cells in each of the three epidermal compartments (basal cells, keratocytes, corneocytes) was made. The percentage of cells labelled by one injection of thymidine as determined by autoradiography was 5 times higher in the soles as compared to the ears. Post mitotic cells passed through the sole epidermis (living portion) in 6 days compared to more than 20 days in the ear. The data are discussed in relation to problems of epidermal homeostasis.

Fatty acid composition of the living layer and stratum corneum lipids of human sole skin epidermis.

AbstractLipids from the living layer and stratum corneum of human sole epidermis were extracted, saponified and the fatty acids analyzed. The proportion of fatty acids to unsaponifiables (mainly cholesterol), was higher in the living layer than in the stratum corneum. Fatty acids of the living layer and stratum corneum of human sole epidermis comprise saturates, monoenes, dienes, traces of polyenes and α‐hydroxy fatty acids. Homologs of monoenoic and dienoic fatty acids for both living layer and stratum corneum lipids have a similar distribution. C16 and C18 were major components for each type of acids. There appeared to be two clusters, especially for saturates of both living layer and stratum corneum acids. One of these clusters ranged from C12 to C20 with C16 or C18 as a maximum and the other ranged from C21 to C30 with C24 as a maximum. The proportion of saturated acids with chain length C20 and above was much higher in the stratum corneum than in the living layer. Position isomers of the monoenoic fatty acids for both the living layer and stratum corneum show a predominance of ω9 acids, due to the overwhelmingly large amount of oleic acid. Linoleic acid was by far the major component of the dienoic acids. Homolog distribution of α‐hydroxy fatty acids for the living layer was similar to that of the stratum corneum and again two clusters of acids below and above C20 with maxima at C16 and C24 were noticeable. Comparison of epidermal acids with those of sebaceous glands showed that each tissue can synthesize the same kind of acids but in widely different amounts. Oxidation of palmitate and stearate could supply the necessary energy for the late stages of keratinization.

Quantitative Histochemistry of the Primate Skin: III. Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were assayed with a fluorometric micromethod in various parts of the skin and its appendages. Enzyme activity was abundant, particularly in the epidermis and mucous membrane (4.2 to 11.3 moles/hr/kg dry wt.). The keratin layer of sole epidermis also contained a considerable amount of enzyme activity (2.6 moles/hr/kg dry wt.). A relatively low activity was found in the apocrine and sebaceous glands (1.8 to 3.6 moles/hr/kg dry wt.). The enzyme was influenced by various activators and inhibitors. The activators were 1-cysteine (200% increase), mercaptoethanol (+300%), EDTA (+300%), and the inhibitors, pCMB, Cu++ and Co++ (nearly 100% inhibition). Either arsenate or orthophosphate was an absolute requirement for the enzyme reaction. It is speculated that this dehydrogenase in skin and appendages may be a regulator of the Pasteur effect, hence of glycolysis, as it may be in muscle or in ascites tumor cells.